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 Planning and Staying Organized

1. Determine your organizing Goals.

2. Create an effective organizing plan.

3. Implement your plan to increase your efficiency and effectiveness by meeting your organizing goals. 

4. Tweak the plan in the areas that may need to be. 

Prioritize items in three categories. Get caught up, keep up and work to get ahead

Get caught up: This can be as simple as picking up a room to a full blown organizing project such as being able to park a car in the garage.  Plan time in your week for catching up on tasks that need attention. This may be different for everyone but is important to schedule. Perhaps 15-30 minutes a day or one to three hrs. In a week until you feel caught up.

Keep up: This can be as simple as taking out the trash and recycling to doing the dishes and the laundry. By investing just a few minutes a day in keeping up you will defeat the Procrastination Beast. If you get bit by the P Beast a few times for lack of keeping up, bite the beast back as soon as possible and continue to keep up.

Work to get ahead: This can be as simple as setting the table for breakfast the night before to working on the family activity calendar. Plan further times for organizing but don’t forget to set time for relaxing and enjoying the benefits of being organized.

Try not to have to have things done perfectly. Sometimes this leads to the that nasty Procrastination Beast because people put off doing projects and tasks because they feel it won’t be done perfectly. Work on the project or task a little at a time it will get done.

Most of all make it fun, organizing doesn’t have to be arduous, and it is fun. 

     

                                       After Holiday Organizing Tips

Update your address book from Holiday cards received.   

 Donate or pass along decorations you did not use this year.

    Can some one else benefit from this? Pass on gifts that you don’t love or need.

    Let go of any broken lights, decorations or ornaments.

    Donate holiday outfits that don’t fit or have lost their luster.

    Ask the help of family members or a friend to put decorations away. Put like items together in bins and label them. This will make it easier see what you have for next year.

  When you shop the after Christmas sales make sure to write down what gifts you acquired and who you intend to give them to for next year. If you buy cards, wrapping paper or other holiday supplies on sale, write a note for yourself and put them in your November 2012 calendar to be prepared for next season.

 Write down what you and, your family really enjoyed about the Holidays and what you would do differently next year...keep this in your November 2012 calendar so you can remember what activities to repeat.

 Decide what holiday baking items you need. Make a resolution to clear your kitchen clutter, start with your baking goods. Remove all old and expired spices and baking goods. Also let go of any pots, pans and utensils that need to be replaced.

                                               

Brenden’s Holiday Organizing Tips

Keep Things Simple. This may be hard for some but the simpler the display tasks are the simpler they are to set up, display, take down, and put away.

When unpacking display items, clothing, linens, ornaments, or any other items have a bag or box ready for donations.  After being on display for a period time some items may be worn out, faded or not the desired look any more. By donating these items before the holidays there is a good chance someone else would be able to make use of them. I find that schools are really good places for these items because it gives the kids the opportunity to repurpose and create new items.

When the kids bring home holiday artwork date them. Then evaluate what to keep and what would make good gifts for friends, relatives and neighbors. A gift of a child’s artwork will brighten anyone’s day.

Clean the fridge and freezer. In a few short weeks the space will be needed for those holiday deserts, main course and side dishes. Any jams or condiments that are almost empty use or throw out to make room for the new items. The same thing goes for the leftovers.

Plan for the gathering. If extra dishes, glassware, tables and chairs are needed make sure they are clean and accessible ahead of time. This will save time searching and cleaning at the last minute.

Clean out and purge front hall closet to make room for guest’s items such as boots, coats, hats, scarfs and gloves. Remove all nonessentials. Also have extra hangers on hand for the guest’s items.

Create a wrapping station. Have one area clean and ready to be available for the gift-wrapping. Get all essentials ready, tape, scissors, and tissue paper for example.

  

 Kids Room Organizing Tips

 

Create a template for the room. Make a home for such as toys, clothing, and books that the child can put away them.

 

Work together with the kids and get them involved in the process.

 

Get down to the kids level. This will allow you to see from the kid’s perspective.

 

Any toys that are received, as gifts from the holidays that are duplicates, not age appropriate or not interested in donate. Places like the Ronald McDonald house, police and fire departments are always in need of toys any time of the year.

Have toys and books easy to put away lower shelves. Items that are breakable and more complicated put on higher shelves.

 Sesame Street Organize. Put like items together. This will make the process fun and easy with the kids.

Use colored bins and or baskets to make it easier for the kids to match up for putting things away.

Donate or pass along any unused toys. Discard the broken ones.

Finally make it fun. Play music in the background. Reward the child for their work. Go to a movie, go for a walk, got out for lunch or just give each other a big hug!!

 

Organize for Spring and Feel Fresh

 OPEN YOUR WINDOWS AND LET THE FRESH AIR IN

There's nothing like letting the fresh air in and smelling spring. You’ll be removing musty winter smells and odor. Also let the sun shine in. Open curtains, drapes and shades to give you plenty of light and an energy boost.

 ORGANIZE THE BROOM CLOSET

Use screw hooks and spring clips to attach mops, brooms and tools to the back of the closet door. Also dust pans, feather dusters and vacuum cleaner parts that don't stay attached to the vac. This will make it easier to find the tools when needed.  

 ORGANIZE CLOTHING

Sort your fall/winter clothes, boots and shoes to make room for your spring/summer wardrobe. Store off-season clothing so you can easily get to the clothes you currently need.  Put the hanging items back in the closet but put them in backwards until you wear them.  When you wear them, put them back in the correct fashion.  This will show what has been worn and what hasn't. This will make the decision of purging spring/summer clothes easier in fall.

 ORGANIZE AND CLEAN THE GARAGE

Remove the obvious junk and clutter. If possible remove everything for a sweeping and moping. The salt, sand, leaves and dirt built up from the long winter. Put the necessary garage items back in their proper places. Find homes for things that don't belong. Reclaim storage the space.

 HAVE YOUR MAJOR HOME SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT

Check your Air Conditioner and Heater filters and clean what’s necessary. Clean out the gutters from the winter sticks and sludge build up. Check your fire alarms/smoke detectors for fresh batteries. Check fire extinguishers and detectors for expiration dates. Clean the coils on your refrigerator and change water filter if needed.